Carlsbad Officer Saves Overdosing Man's Life

CARLSBAD, CA – A man is alive, thanks to the quick action of a Carlsbad police officer.

While checking on a homeless encampment just before 11:10 a.m. Oct. 17 in the 2700 block of Haymar Drive, Officer Ron Dement was approached by an individual who said that another person was attempting to revive an unresponsive man lying in the bushes.

"Officer Dement radioed for paramedics to respond and then rapidly located the person in distress," police officials said in a news release. "He observed a syringe containing heroin next to the motionless body of a person who was unconscious. Initially, the individual had a slight pulse and exhibited shallow breathing."

With the assistance of another officer, Dement monitored the man pulse and breathing. Prior to the arrival of paramedics, he observed the man stop breathing and lost his pulse, according to the department. He gave the man CPR until paramedics arrived at the scene.

Police said the paramedics gave the man a dose of Naloxone, a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. He was transported to a local hospital and was expected to make a full recovery.

Photo courtesy of Will County